By defining yourself by what you are not, you will define yourself as nothing

I've been getting more serious about pursuing several goals, and this week gave me a great lesson in contrasts.

It reminded me of the importance of starting with the end in mind and to make sure that any success I achieve is something that I would actually want. I'm looking forward to stepping up, but I never want to have to put on a fake personality as a job requirement.

Even now in writing this I'm feeling the tension to not go all in as a one-dimensional fitness guy, or annoyingly cheerful, or any other common expectation that goes with my line of work.

And that's the problem isn't it?

We have stereotypes for people if they excel in any area.

And who wants to be a one-dimensional stereotype?

Who wants to be successful at the risk of becoming a "vacuous, shallow yuppie"? Who wants to become really fit at the risk of becoming a "stupid jock", or "vain and self-centered"? Who wants to be an artist at the risk of being "flighty, broke, and perpetually unhappy"?

By defining yourself by what you are not, you will define yourself as nothing.

The common choice is to avoid being too much of any one thing. Or else we let (at least I have) popular stereotypes drive the way we live. Or, realizing that some sort of action is required, it's common to accent or diminish key aspects of ourselves in order to fit the mold better and improve our odds of success.

Your money or your life.

I don't know about you, but I think that sucks.

I'm in the midst of this, so I don't have any great "I've-figured-this-out-and-aren't-I-super-cool" advise for you. I'm just going to try to connect with and read up about people who are successful in multiple disciplines and defy common stereotypes.

The only encouragement I can offer you is to start taking action and not letting these stereotypes define you. Get fit. Start pursing excellence. Get outside yourself. Commit.

-Charlie

Five Moves To A Faster 5K

I live in Hyde Park and I love that so many people are out running, walking, and off of the couch. As a trainer I also see where most people’s workouts could use some improvement. Most people default to aerobic training to keep fit, but as any runner will tell you, every year it gets harder to run fast and it gets more challenging to keep the extra weight off.

Here are five movements to help you get strong, flexible, raise your metabolism, and reduce your odds of injury. Do this in a circuit, going from one exercise to the next with minimal rest. Perform 10 to 20 repetitions (total or per side) then go to the next one. Do this circuit three to five times and try to get in three workouts a week. I’d do it before running if time is limited.

Note: when strength training, most people disengage or turn their muscles “off” to lower, and lurch to bring themselves back up. Instead, tighten your core, lock in good posture, and move slowly enough to be controlled, but fast enough to keep it interesting.

Split Squats: Like a lunge, but your feet stay in place, front foot flat, on your toes on your back foot. Stay tall and simply lower and raise using your legs. Don’t go forward and back like a fencer. You should feel a big quad and hip stretch on the back leg.

Push Ups: If you can’t do regular, then elevate your hands on a bench. Tighten your legs, abs, butt, and look out ahead of you. Use a mirror (off to the side) to make sure your not just bobbing your head up and down. Elevate your feet for more challenge.

Single Leg Romanian Dead Lifts: Hold onto a chair or wall with one hand, the other arm out for balance. Keep a clean line from your ear to your foot as you raise your outside leg and bring yourself parallel to the floor (standing on one foot). You should feel this all along the back of your body.

Body Weight Rows or Pull Ups (advanced) Find a low bar at the playground, grab a hold, walk your feet forward and start rowing. Keep your shoulders wide and look up as you row to reinforce good posture habits. The more parallel to the ground you get, the more difficult this is.

Side Plank With Rotation: Turn on your side and prop up on your forearm and the edges of your feet. Top hand goes behind your head. Work that extension and don’t “sink” into it! Turn and bring your forehead to the crook of your elbow. Come back to start position. Hold a weight for more of a challenge.

For more information on classes done in this format go to http://513fit.com/